Sikorsky

Published 1:00 am, Tuesday, April 4, 2006

Sikorsky Aircraft and its workers have finally agreed on a new contract, after a painful strike that lasted six weeks and left both sides worse off for the experience.

Company executives and union leaders had been under increasing pressure from Connecticut's congressional delegation and Governor Rell to agree on a contract and get back to the business of building helicopters.

The union vote was 1,488 to 1,416 to approve the contract, hardly a vote of confidence.

"Neither side won," said
John Murphy
, Teamsters vice president. "We fought to a bloody draw."

The major dispute in the contract talks was over health care insurance. The company wanted employees to pay a greater share of costs.

That company proposal is in the contract that was finally approved, but the union won larger bonuses for approving the contract and retroactive insurance coverage while on strike.

From the company's perspective, then, it won the contract dispute. But in the process, it undermined public confidence in its commitment to Connecticut.

Over many years, Connecticut officials have shown respect and support for Sikorsky, based in Stratford, arguing in Washington for more contracts.

Yet, as it fought the union, Sikorsky quickly announced it planned to move work out of Connecticut, showing little courtesy to the elected officials who have been Sikorsky's champions or the workers who build its helicopters.

As Sikorsky and the union re-establish their relationship, Sikorsky executives have fences to mend in Connecticut.